The Time Machine

I'm making a point of reading the classics, and when it comes to science fiction, where better to start than with them an considered to be the father of the genre, H.G. Wells?

Published in 1895, The Time Machine is Wells' first book, which I read in 2012. It was a difficult read for me initially, because of all the scientific and mathematical chatter in the first chapter. But I managed to trudge through, as this did not last long and the Time Traveller was off and returned from his adventure soon enough.

The narrative then became quite verbose and descriptive, as is to be expected since the Time Traveller was describing his experience. At times, it perhaps felt a bit over embellished, but not enough for me to truly claim that to be a negative in the story.

What I did enjoy most was the way the Time Traveller would make immediate speculations upon something he finds, but then quickly explain that, upon further inspection or later discoveries, that his theories are so very wrong. Ultimately, he does not come to any solid conclusions, allowing the reader to speculate on what this future means for its past.

In light of this being considered the first true science fiction novel, I can see it being rather impressive at the time of its publication. A whole new world and the reader gets to listen to the Time Traveller's story in the same manner as the journalists, medical men and scientists whom he tells it to. I imagine the reaction of the readers at that time was very similar to those in the book.